Pymatuning Ambulance Service to fold at end of January

Dec. 24--ANDOVER -- Pymatuning Ambulance Service will fold on Jan. 31, ambulance service president David Miller said Sunday, as Andover Village council has accepted a bid from a competitive ambulance service.

"We had a meeting today with our board of trustees, as the village chose Community Care Ambulance as their ambulance service provider on Friday," Miller said. "Given our precarious financial situation, with even one entity leaving our service, we felt we could not maintain business any longer."

PAS served Andover, Andover Township, Williamsfield Township, Wayne Township, Cherry Valley Township and Richmond Township.

Miller said PAS, a non-profit organization, asked the townships and villages to review options for service several weeks ago.

"We have been having some financial issues," Miller said. "We decided to restructure our staff and still provide service to the community, but that just isn't possible now."

Miller said $500,000 in unpaid bills to PAS, mostly by uninsured patients, was the main cause of the service's financial woes.

PAS employs 20 emergency medical technicians and paramedics, Miller said.

He said the ambulance service trustees will likely sell off equipment and supplies to pay off debt and outstanding bills.

After Jan. 31, residents of Andover, Andover Township, Williamsfield Township, Wayne Township, Cherry Valley Township and Richmond Township should dial 911 for ambulance service, Miller said.

"And anyone with a medical alert system must contact their medical alert service provider and report the change in ambulance service," he said.

Copyright 2012 - Star Beacon, Ashtabula, Ohio